Egg-identifying device



Oct. 26 1926.

R. P. ESTRADA EGG IDENTIFYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1924 INVENTOK EAMo/v P E5 TEA DA A TTOENEY Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

. Ramon 2. Emma, or LOS ANGELES,.-QALIFOBNIA3 EGG-IDENTIFYING DEVICE.

Application m December 16, 1924; Serial m. 75 ,345.

tion to mark an egg as it is being laid whereby the eggs laid by any one of a number of hens can be readil identified, thus providing means by whic one can easilydetermine the laying proclivities of any particularhen. I

I will herein describe only one form of egg identifying device embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing in front elevation one form of egg identifying device embodying my invention in applied but inactive position; 1

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the device in active position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1';

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Figure 3..

Referring specifically to the. drawings,

in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, my invention, in its present embodiment comprises a pair of arms A and A carrying marking elements M and M, the arms normally occupying-an expanded position as illustratedin Figure 1, but being mounted to occupy a contracted position-as shown in Figure 2, wherein the marking elements M and M are adapted to have contact with an eggfor, the purpose of marking and thus identifying the latter. These arms A and A, areidentical in construction and are made from a single length of resilient wire bent medially of its ends to provide curved portions 15, straight portions 16 into which the curved portions 15 merge, and arcuate portions 17 connected to the straight portions to provide a shoulder at the junction of the two for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The free ends of the arcuate Portions 17 are'pro- 'vided with cup sockets 18 of semi-ovate form in which the markirf elements M and M are rotatably mounte times exposed. These elements in the present instance are formed of lead or some equivalent material which will readll mark on the surface of an egg when broug t into in a manner sothat a portion of such element is at all contact. therewith. I do not wish to be restricted to this particular form ofmarkmg means, as it is to be understood that other marking means may be employed, such as inked type or colored chalk.

At the junction of the curved portions 15 of the arms A and A, the arms are fixedly secured to one end of an actuating member, B, such member, in the present instance, being in the form of an elongated plate of metal or other suitable material having a tongue 19 which is bent to engage the wire from which the arms are formed, and thus secure the latter to the plate. The upper end of the plate is provided with spaced ears 20 in which a roller 21 is rotatably mounted and adapted for engagement with the body of the hen to facilitate movement of the plate on the body. The lower end of the plate is relatively wide and is provided with. right-angularly disposed yokes 22 formed of wire and through which the straight portions 16 of the arms extend. These yokes 22 operate to define the expanded position of the arms, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1, at the same time permitting unrestricted inward movement of'the arms to occupy contracted position.

For attachment of the device to the body of the hen, I provide an attaching member D made of a. single resilient wire and including a pin 23 and a curved bar 24 formed at one end with a'keeper 25 for securing the pin against displacement from the body of the hen. This bar 24 is of arcuate form as shown and provides a support for the arms A and A, it beingnoted that at the junction of the curved portions 15 and the straight portions 16 the wire is looped, as indicated at 26, and these loops slidably receive the bar 24;.

To "ttach the device to the body of a hen, the pin 23 is extended through,the skin at spaced points in the manner illustrated. Now, in order to maintain the entire device in proper position on the'hen, a sleeve 27 is mounted on the pin in such manner that undue longitudinal movement of the pin on the body is prevented. In operation, the arms normall occupy the expanded position shown in i re 1, wherein the marking eleme ts M' and are in an inactive position. ing the laying of an e g, the upward movement of the skin or flee adjacent the body opening from arms because of the curvature of the rod 24, the

' eac 100 s under this upward stress slide toward other, thereby. forcing the arms inwardly to the contracted position shown in Figure 2,whe'rein the marking elements occupy an active position to inscribe on the egg as it is being ejected marks by which the origin of such egg can be subsequently determined.

' .It will be understood that with a plurality of hens equipped with identifying devices of this character, and each'device provided with marking elements of a different color or character, all eggs laid will be marked during the process 0 laying to permit read identification thereof as to the hens whic l v laid them.

Although I have herein described and claimed only one form of egg identifying device embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my, invention:

' 1. An egg identifying device comprising a pair of arms normally urged to an expanded position, means for movably attaching the arms to the body of a hen, markers carried by the arms,and means adapted to respond to the movement of the hens body during the laying of the egg for contractin the arms whereby the markers are cause to have marking engagement with the egg as it is being laid.

2; An egg identifying device comprising a pair of resilient arms normally urged to an expanded position, means for laterally moving the arms, and marking elements carried on the arms.

3. Anegg identifying device comprising an attaching member, an actuating member,

resilient arms secured to the actuating member and normally urged to an expanded position, means'for laterally moving the arms toward each other, and marking elements r0 tatably "mounted on the arms. 1 4. An egg identifying device comprising an attaching member, an actuating member,

the arms, mar 'ng elements on the arms,"

and means for connecting the arms to the actuating member so that when the latter is moved a contraction of the arms will be effected to move the. marking elements toward each other. 7 I

5. An egg identifying device as embodied in claim 4 wherein the actuating member carries a non-friction element to facilitate movement of the actuating member.

6. An egg identifying device comprising an attachmg member including a curved portion, an actuating member, resilient arms secured to the actuating member and normally urged outwardly from eachv other,

marking elements on the arms, extensions on the actuating member for limiting the outward movement ofthe arms, and loops on the arms slidable on said curved portion whereby when the actuating member is moved the arms will be forced toward each other for the purpose described.

7. An egg identifying device as embodied in claim 6 wherein a sleeve is mounted on the attaching member adapted to co act with the latter in holding the device in fixed position on the body of a hen, and a second roller is mounted on the actuating member to roll on the body of a hen.

8. An egg identifying, device comprising an attaching element including a single length of wire bent to provide a pm and a curved portion, a plate movable through the attaching member, a pair of arms of resilient wire fixed-atone of their ends to the plate and curved so as to be normally urged outwardly from each other, loops on the arms slidably receiving the said curved portion of the attaching element so that when the plate is moved in one direction the'arms will be moved toward each other, curved extensions on the arms, marking elements a RAMON P. ESTRADA. 

